HORIZONTAL CONTROL

To establish a framework of
reference points for surveying.
Two main methods
Traversing and Triangulation
 TRAVERSING

Most widely used and flexible method of

providing control for site survey.

Types
• Closed traverse- Closed loop / line traverse
• Open traverse ( unclosed traverse)
 CLASSIFICATIONS

• OPEN, CLOSED LINE & CLOSED LOOP

• PRECISE, SEMI PRECISE OR ROUGH
• COMPUTED OR PLOTTED
• SETTING OUT
 LAYOUT
• LEGS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE
• STATIONS AS FEW AS POSIBLE
• STATIONS ON PERMANENT FEATURES OR
TIED TO PERMANENT FEATURES
• WHERE NECESSARY, SECONDARY LOOPS
MAY BE USED
Traversing involves
establishing control stations that are intervisible with
adjacent stations.

Stations are joined by traverse legs / lines

Survey involves
measuring angle between adjacent lines
measuring lengths of legs / lines
calculating coordinates of stations
plotting stations on plan
 Choice of Stations:

Good visibility between stations

Legs approximately equal
Should not be more than 10 legs
Should be permanent or tied to permanent structure
 Measurements

Linear
Tape : checks & procedure as for chaining
EDM : high degree of accuracy.

Angular
Theodolites.
Total Stations
magnification of telescope up to 40 times.
 COORDINATE SYSTEMS
• Provides control for survey
– allowing errors to be determined and corrected
– independent plotting of stations without use of measuring
devices
• Cartesian, Polar or Geographic?
– Polar and geographic not used
– generally N-S, E-W Cartesian system
• North?
– True, magnetic or Grid
• Coordinates
– Easting - Distance east of N-S axis
– Northing - Distance north of E-W axis
 BEARINGS
• Whole Circle Bearing N
– angle measured clockwise from North WCB 120 °

120°

• Quadrant Bearing N
QB N °E
– Angle <90°Measured from N-S axis °
– may be in E or W direction W E

° QB S °W

S
 WHEN TO DO TRAVERSING
• WHEN
– Control is to be provided for a site survey.
– Chain surveying is inadequate for the task.
– Accuracy demanded is greater than that for
chain survey
– introduction of traversing to chain surveying
results in savings in time and cost.